Significant Increase in Traffic Following Border Reopening, with New Measures to Manage Congestion
Since the reopening of the land borders between Singapore and Malaysia on April 1, an average of over 165,000 people have crossed daily, according to Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi. This was revealed during a session of the Johor state assembly on June 20, in response to a question by Stulang representative Andrew Chen regarding the movement at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) immigration complex and the Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) at the Second Link.
Mr. Onn Hafiz confirmed that both checkpoints had seen a revitalisation, positively impacting families separated by the pandemic and benefiting the state’s socio-economic situation, particularly in Johor Bahru. The BSI complex saw around 138,000 travellers daily, while the KSAB handled about 28,000, contributing to a combined total of 166,000 crossings per day.
Between April 1 and June 14, a total of 6.3 million Malaysians and 2.3 million foreign travellers passed through BSI, while 2.7 million Malaysians and 704,000 foreign travellers used the KSAB. The chief minister also highlighted “sudden spikes” in traveller numbers and stated that discussions had taken place with various agencies to ensure a focused approach to handling the increased traffic.
To alleviate congestion, additional manpower and officials have been deployed at both immigration complexes. However, some Johoreans have raised concerns about cross-border movement, prompting the state government to commit to addressing these issues while prioritising the convenience of the people.
Traffic at the checkpoints has surged significantly since the reopening. In April, more than 33,000 travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints on the first day, with numbers steadily increasing over the following weeks. By June, daily crossings had reached 267,000 during the June 10-12 weekend. The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has warned travellers of potential heavy traffic during the school holidays, advising them to plan accordingly and consider cross-border bus services to avoid delays.
Additionally, the resumption of the KTM Tebrau Shuttle service on June 19, after being suspended for over two years due to the pandemic, has been welcomed, with nearly 70,000 tickets sold in just one month. This service, which connects Johor Bahru Sentral and Woodlands stations, is expected to help ease congestion on the Causeway.
